[Randall Raines]

Hi, just before (Bonfire Night) my other ½ wanted a chequered roof on her MINI (white roof), as I have done some graphics before, I was going to fit the chequers myself, so I cleaned & valeted the whole car not only to get rid of any contaminants off the roof, but also so once finished, she could get out in it & start showing it off ASAP . All the paint work was in excellent condition especially the roof & spoiler.

To cut a long story short I took that long making sure the was clean & free from any imperfections that could effect the graphics I had to postpone the fitting for a week or so .

The day before the fitting (around bonfire night itself) I noticed what looked like tea stains, as if a cup of tea had been thrown over the car which wouldn't be unusual for our neighbourhood and as we don't have a garage, the car is left on the street.

So my partner washed the car at home by hand with new sponges, as we don't use car washes either automated (never) or by hand (thought about it once).

It looked "MINT" until I inspected the roof prior to the final preparation to fit the chequers .

The whole roof & spoiler was covered with (metal particles / iron filings) that were rusting on the roof, hence the appearance of tea stains (rust) .

After questioning the other ½ , "Where have you been parking" etc... etc... I spoke to a valeter (on the phone) who said it could possibly be fallout from the atmosphere, which I knew about but I disagreed with him, he called around in person & agreed with me and said he hadn't actually seen fallout like that before .

I painstakingly removed all the particles that I could but they were either burnt on or stuck on. so it was again to late to fit the graphics, I left the car out side again again (around bonfire night).

The next day I went to fit the graphics, again the whole roof was covered with bits / filings again . Don't Laugh .

I have eventually got the chequers on (looking good I might add) . But unfortunately I inspected the whole car and the bits were all over it on paint work & glass (it was just more noticeable on the roof with the roof being white).

Even worse, the whole car was / is full of scratches (luckily not deep & may polish out but then you have the swirls argument), in hindsight, when the other ½ washed the car, the sponges & chamois leathers picked up the bits and scratched the car .

Before some one asks the car has had paint work (Spoiler, Arches etc..) But it wasn't iron filings from the body shop (ie grinding next to the car) as that was done a couple of years now (thoroughly inspected afterwords, washed & checked regularly by hand, by myself) and there's not been a problem until now.

The only thing we could come up with (me and the valeter) was it was either some sort of FIREWORK / BONFIRE debris / fallout from around bonfire night.

The reason for this post is because I've noticed a couple of other posts about scratches to the glass & paint so this may possibly be a cause.

Again before someone suggest "claying the car" this would have only picked up the filings & scratched the paint, view this thread / post about "How to clay your car.".

http://www.mini2.com/forum/maintenan...ml#post3168227

This may not be the cause of any body else's scratches but it's worth checking before you wash it, if it's not already to late?

If some one has this on their car and goes through a car wash, not only will that car get scratched, but how many other cars will be effected if filings / debris is picked up on their sponges? Just a thought !!!

[South Shore Lad]

Has anyone ever had any roof damage by a falling rocket? I know they only come back to earth pretty slowly, but even so some of the things you can get these days are HUGE!!

[Randall Raines]

Quote: Originally Posted by South Shore Lad (original)

Has anyone ever had any roof damage by a falling rocket? I know they only come back to earth pretty slowly, but even so some of the things you can get these days are HUGE!!

I actually saw a firework (rocket) set off in the day light, the effect was pretty rubbish but the stick drifted back down to earth like a falling leaf (not fast) and actually landed on the roof of a cabriolet (not a MINI) and it actually tore the roof putting a little L shape rip in it , the stick was about 1cm x 1cm x 1 meter (pretty big).

At night you only see the effect (not the stick).